The Linguist is a languages magazine for professional linguists, translators, interpreters, language professionals, language teachers, trainers, students and academics with articles on translation, interpreting, business, government, technology
Issue link: https://thelinguist.uberflip.com/i/1099780
@Linguist_CIOL Roma and the Oscars: Why has Hollywood ignored the foreign language film?, 18/2/19 If, as the bookies predict, Alfonso Cuarón's Roma triumphs at the Academy Awards, it will open a can of worms. No foreign-language film has ever won… You could go back over the years and rank any number of foreign- language films above the best picture winner… It's not as though the Oscars matter that much, but foreign language cinema is on the decline. In the UK last year, they made up just over 2% of the box office gross, and half of that was Bollywood. What the papers say… Britain's Dwindling Language Skills are a Disaster for the Country and Needs Action, MPs Warn, 4/3/19 The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Modern Languages has set out its National Recovery Programme to revolutionise language skills across the country. The report argues that languages are not just an issue for schools and it says the government, businesses and higher education institutions must also play a part… "As a country looking to redefine its role on the international stage and be a leader in trade and diplomacy, we need language skills to become the norm." This Chrome Extension Lets You Learn a New Language by Watching Netflix, 12/2/19 It's a clever service that makes use of Netflix's massive catalog and all of the major languages in which it already offers subtitles… "For some languages (Farsi, for example), there's only a limited amount of learning materials available," [developer David] Wilkinson said in an email. "I think a lot of people would enjoy studying a language with material they are already familiar with." The latest from the languages world The closure of the European Commission Representation in London was set to be postponed as The Linguist went to press, after Parliament voted to extend Brexit to 30 June. Its language outreach work will end when the UK leaves the EU, with the staff of Europe House moving to other roles, and a newly staffed 'EU embassy' taking up residence. Led by staff seconded from the Commission's Directorate-General for Translation (DG Translation), the outreach work includes holding language and translation events, giving talks in schools and universities, raising awareness of career opportunities for linguists in the EU, and supporting initiatives by UK organisations promoting languages. There are 139 Delegations of the European Union around the world, none of which have officials from DG Translation on their staff. Although DG Translation may NEWS & EDITORIAL continue to do some outreach work to the UK after Brexit, they will no longer have a presence at Europe House. A delay to Brexit affords British linguists extra time to put their names on a new EU database of proofreaders and translators for potential recruitment on fixed-term contracts. This is only open to EU nationals. A separate call for tenders for freelance translation services is due to be launched in May. People working through businesses based in the EU will be eligible, so UK nationals with no other EU citizenship will be able to apply after Brexit. To register for these roles, visit bit.ly/epsotranslators, bit.ly/epsoproofreaders and bit.ly/eceuropaeu. APRIL/MAY The Linguist 5 Half of A-level languages axed Half of schools and colleges in England and Wales have dropped A-level language courses, a survey has revealed. Conducted by the Sixth Form Colleges Association on behalf of the Raise the Rate Campaign, the report found that French, Spanish and German have been particularly affected, with German cut by 57% of schools due to funding cuts and higher costs. Spending on post-16 education fell by more than 20% in real terms from 2010-11 to 2017-18, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Responding to the findings, based on a poll of 271 institutions, Raise the Rate described funding as "totally inadequate". EU outreach extended AT EUROPE HOUSE Romanian Language Evening organised by the EC Representation and Romanian Cultural Institute